CO2 tanks in Canada. Buy or rent?

I am going to purchase a Milwaukee regulator online and I intend to get a CO2 tank. Trouble is, I am not sure as to the best way to go about it. Are there any regulations that prevent me from owning & refilling my own tank in Ontario, Canada? Is it best to rent my tank? What costs are involved?

The best thing to do is see if you can find a local outlet that will fill your tank while you wait. If there is not one then you are actually better off to rent a tank. It doesn't make sense to buy a nice new shiny tank that will be traded in for a dirty rusty one at the first refill.

Not sure what the situation is back east, but out here a hydro test costs $18 at the same fire extinguisher shop that fills my cylinders. The cheapest reconditioned 10 lb. cylinder I could find last fall was $100, so $50 sounds like a good deal.

Fill for a 20 pounder costs ~$24 here. The quote for 10lbs was only slightly less. $40? Sounds like we're spoiled on the Wet Coast.

What Rex said: find a fire extinguisher shop or beverage supplier and ask them about fills and getting hydro tests done. The only legal requirement for you owning a cylinder is to have a hydro test done on it every five years.

Yeah, I phoned a gas refill place in Toronto and they told me about the 5 year test thing. They also said that their food grade CO2 refills are $15 for a 10lb refill! What grade of CO2 do you guys refill with, industrial, food or medical grade? Also, there are about five other used 20lb Coke tanks where I found this one. I didn't bother to get the name or ph# of the place that has them, but I will be sure to post it here as soon as I find out.

Here in Arkansas at the closetest welding shop, the first time you rent a tank from them its around 120 dollars, then after that every refill is only 12 dollars. The smallest tank they have for CO2 is 15lbs.

Here in Arkansas at the closetest welding shop, the first time you rent a tank from them its around 120 dollars, then after that every refill is only 12 dollars.

If those are the only charges then it would be worthwhile to rent. When I've looked into renting other gases in the past some places were trying to charge close to that annually, or charge extra for using additional gas, not enough gas, taking your cylinder back later than they thought you should have, blah, blah, blah. You have to shop around and make sure they explain everything up front if welding shops are your only choice.

Which reminds me - I need to phone around to the gas suppliers again this week. I'll add CO2 to the list and see if things have changed at all. You have me curious now.

Yeah, I phoned a gas refill place in Toronto and they told me about the 5 year test thing. They also said that their food grade CO2 refills are $15 for a 10lb refill!

Good deal. One other wrinkle to check - if you bring your own cylinder in for a fill, will they do it on site as you wait, or send it out to a plant to return two weeks later? (I would assume if we can get on site refills out here, surely in Toronto, but as they say about assumptions...)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matak

What grade of CO2 do you guys refill with, industrial, food or medical grade?

AAAWWWW!!! It's the Great Welding/Medical/Aviator's Oxygen Debate from mixed gas diving all over again. Make it stop!!

Sorry. Little flashback there.

Food grade. That way, if you accidentally OD your critters on CO2, you can still use them for sushi.

Just go to your nearest hydroponics store. I got mine from Homegrown hydroponics and paid a deposit on the tank. They refill a 20 pound tank for $25. When I need more I just go to the store and do a tank switch. The best thing about having the tank on a deposit is that you don't have to worry about it aging or breaking. You can also go to camcarb in the Toronto area.

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